Making Demons Purr (Flushed and Fevered Book 2) (17 page)

She chuckled. A rich musical sound that shook her entire being. He felt lit up from the inside just watching her enjoy the moment. Carver glanced over at Thorn to see if he felt the same way.

Thorn stared at her, awe on his face. “Beautiful,” he murmured.

Carver bobbed his head in agreement.

“Again, you guys are so cute. I would love to date you both. I’m not sure about where this will go, but I do want to continue this. OK?” She studied both of them.

“Yes!” Both men said in unison.

She laughed again. “Good. Can we eat now? I’m starving.”

“Yes, we can.” Carver guided her over to the table while Thorn served their mini-feast. “And while we eat you can tell us about the rogue you helped bag.”

“Can’t tell you much except he’s wanted back by his master and we got the job.” Sera’s tone was light.

Carver could tell she was holding something back but didn’t want to push. Whatever was going on they’d hear about later, maybe from her or maybe from other sources.

As soon as they sat down Sera started the grilling. “I know the demon history of Evenfall. Your houses were called in and a contract was formed to lend your protection to this place. Gargoyles and werewolves were pledged to the vampires as their guardians, but the shifters and witches were all left out in the cold. Most of the beasties in the forest wanted nothing to do with us, so there was no one to keep us safe. That was why we signed the contract. What I don’t get is what was in it for you guys?”

“Nice change of subject.” Thorn chuckled. “Not the least bit inquisitive are you? Well, let’s see if I can explain it to you. To begin with, this was our patch of land before Evenfall was established. Demons owned it. But we can’t resist a good bargain, and the witches agreed to give us fifty percent of the wealth they found mining the mountains. The shifters agreed to give us right of first refusal on all business deals before going to the vampires or other groups.”

Sera took a sip of wine and nodded. “Go on. I follow you.”

Carver took over the story. “Until fifty years ago our houses watched over this bit of land and taught the witches the secrets of dark magic—for research purposes, you understand. We didn’t give too much away, but it amused us to watch them marvel at the minutiae we gave them.”

Thorn grinned as he ate a large portion of spaghetti.

Sera sniffed. “We’re not that stupid you know, speaking as a witch’s familiar.”

Carver held up his hands. “We know that, beautiful, we know that. But the knowledge you did possess was so small. It was amazing to us that you survived encounters with our kind at all. There was so much you didn’t know about courtesies or contracts. It always left us in awe that we didn’t
own
witch kind. Demons can’t be entirely trusted you know.”

Sera snorted. “I know that much. Both of you have proved that. Going behind my back with that Contract of Courtship? I’m amazed I didn’t hear about it. The feline community can be very gossipy.”

“I think your mother tamped down the talk.”

“Of course she did.” Sera rolled her eyes. “Now you are a fire demon, right Carver? And you’re an ice demon?” Sera glanced from Carver to Thorn and back again.

Carver was the first to answer. “Yes, I’m fire. Lucifer had the abilities of both fire and ice. The hierarchy demons have ice magic and my kind, who are lower on the totem pole of power, have fire. Those beneath us have watered down versions of both, but are better at black magic.”

Sera frowned. “Don’t all demons use black magic?”

Thorn nodded. “Yes. Older houses have the most powerful stuff, but lower classes have to use a mix of magics to enhance their abilities. And because they interact so much with witches they are more adept at complicated spells. Confused?”

Sera shook her head. “No. That’s like what most witches do. Each family and witch has individual powers. That is the basis of their strength. To use other elements they have to work that much harder. And most elements are associated with certain spells. Fire is used for defense, ice for offense, earth for healing, and air for controlling emotions.”

Carver nodded. “And where do familiars fit in?”

Sera grinned, her bronze-colored eyes shone with pride. “We anchor the witches to the here and now and help amplify their abilities. Witches choose their familiars when they turn sixteen. Some are bonded to them by family relationship, others decide to go outside the family and adopt. Some familiars find the witch. And before you ask, yes, they can have more than one familiar. Too complicated?” She paused.

Carver peeked at Thorn. He didn’t look confused at all. “Go on.”

“OK. If a witch has more than one familiar, she can draw on different energies and elements. As a black panther, I can draw on fire and water. Werewolves and canine shifters can draw on earth and air. This isn’t exactly a state secret, but please don’t spread it around. Anyway, my family has been connected to Bridget’s family for years, so it was easy for me to become her familiar. Mysta is a snake shifter, who’s shown a connection to water and fire, and Lana is a pixie who has a deep connection with earth.”

“I can see that. So Mysta and Lana act as familiars to Bridget as well? Interesting.” Carver let that information sink in. He had more respect for Bridget now that he knew she had such powerful ties. Mysta came from a very powerful snake-shifter family. He didn’t know much about Lana, other than that she loved sweets and shouldn’t be allowed coffee.

Sera shook her head. “Lana isn’t exactly a familiar. Bridget brought her into the business to give her a home and a safe place to stay as well as a job. But she can act also as a conduit when the need arises.”

Carver couldn’t help but be impressed. Bridget had formed a great many alliances, which allowed her business to deal with a multitude of different incidents. She was a true jack-of-all-trades.

“Other than that, I can’t tell you anything else.” Sera gave a cheeky grin and dug into what little remained of her meal. “Bridget would have my hide to make a fur coat.”

For now Carver decided to put Sera’s punishment on hold and just enjoy her company. Sex could wait. A glance at Thorn showed him that his friend was absolutely enraptured. For now, everything was on hold as they learned more about their intended mate.

Chapter Twelve

Sera smoothed the skirt over her hips and turned this way and that, making sure everything was in place. Dinner had gone well. Rather than stay up and make out, both men agreed it would be a good idea to start this new leg of their relationship by holding off. They wanted to show her that they were with her for
her
, not for a quick fuck. She loved that they wanted to do this, but she worried about the implication of serious dating. Did all three of them have to go out? What if only Carver wanted to go with her? Or only Thorn? It didn’t matter what her mother would think—or the feline community for that matter. What mattered was that they weren’t hurting anyone.

Two gorgeous, sexy, caring, successful men—demons no less—wanted her. And they wanted her for who she was. There was a freeing aspect to this. Part of her was dying to tell all her friends about her men. It was like an extra-good secret, too delicious to keep to yourself. And yet she didn’t want to share.

She turned her attention to the flowers they had sent her—a dozen roses in various shades. Their fragrance perfumed the air with sweetness. She paused to take in their scent and let it wash over her. Arthur had never done anything this sweet for her. In fact, none of her past lovers had been so thoughtful.

The card had said that the flowers had reminded them of her—elegant, seductive, and dangerous. She couldn’t help but smile. It had been a surprise to open the door and find the delivery guy standing there about to ring her bell. She didn’t even have to ask who they were from. Her mother didn’t send flowers, even on her birthday.

She inhaled the deep, musky fragrance, then grabbed her purse and headed out of her bedroom. Carver refused to say where they were going, but he had told her to dress in something sexy. They wanted to show her off. She’d chosen a figure-hugging emerald-green dress with a pencil skirt that had a slit in the back and gold peep-toe shoes with a matching clutch.

She decided to let the men take the lead and determine how things would be for the rest of the night. She trusted them to take care of her and keep her entertained. Besides, she was curious to see how they would interact now that they were all officially in a relationship. Would Carver or Thorn fight for control? She refused to become the reason their friendship shattered. Carver always seemed so easygoing, while Thorn was more reserved. Both men had dominant personalities. They could go from sweet kittens to roaring lions in a matter of seconds, and that had her inner panther excited. She was ready for anything they threw at her.

The dull buzz of full-moon hormones skimmed her skin and caused ripples of energy to pop and hum through her body. She pressed her lips together. She hoped the evening would end in sex. There were five days left before she had to shift, and she was becoming restless. She had had a lovely dinner at their house, and she appreciated the opportunity to get to know them better, but sex would help take the edge off. In her cat form she’d let her panther run free. She wondered if they’d want to be there for her for aftercare.

Normally, shifters stayed together, changed together, and helped each other afterward. She would be raw, emotional, exhausted, and vulnerable to her surroundings. Everything would pose a threat. The change was the most dangerous time for a shifter; they had no ability to communicate in a human tongue except through gestures and sounds. They could be mistaken for their true feline cousins and be trapped and killed for their body parts and pelts, even in America.

Sera shuddered. She would have to talk to them about that. Normally she shifted with Vivi, Ariel, Donna, and Mysta, or with members of her leap while Bridget and Lana stood guard. Francine chose to change at home with her husband.

An idea hit Sera and her stomach clenched as a fine sheen of sweat formed on her forehead. What if Carver and Thorn were disgusted with what she did when she let her feline counterpart out to play? If they were to be a true
ménage à trois
, the demons would have to accept all of her, including her panther form. Last night at dinner they’d skimmed the topic, but she’d kept it sweet and simple. She could see they would need to go into it in more depth tonight. They’d already seen her partial shift. Could they take her in her full black panther glory?

For a second she considered calling Mysta, Donna, and Ariel for help with what to say. In the past, she’d always dated shifters, so this topic had never come up. There were the rules and etiquette to go over with them, and matters of safety. Shifters could get crazy if they felt foreign paras were invading their territories. By now the forest wardens would be releasing prey into the forests for the full moon hunt. How would demons handle all the bloodletting? Questions whirled around her mind and doubts began to surface.

Her heart pounded against her rib cage as more and more questions popped up. When the doorbell rang the sound jarred her into action. She grabbed her jacket and rushed to the door. There was no way to cancel now. She felt so ill-prepared to have this discussion. What if they didn’t understand? Or just didn’t get it?

Sera pulled open the door, prepared to send them away. She felt the need to make lists of topics to cover, create a prep guide for them, call in her shifter friends who dated non-shifters so she could cover all her bases. She opened her mouth to tell Carver and Thorn her decision but the words stalled on her tongue as her gaze ate up the twin terrors that stood before her. They were suited up and devastating to behold. Men in well-cut suits should be illegal.

Carver wore a black suit with red pinstripes and a crisp, white shirt. The jacket and slacks didn’t hug his body but showed off musculature under the cloth very well. The brightness of the shirt showed off the deep gold of his skin. Both his hands were stuffed into his pockets. He looked cool and casual, but his eyes—endless pools of onyx with a glimmer of fire—gave away his arousal.

Thorn wore a crisp, gray suit with a light blue shirt that really made his steel-colored eyes pop. His red hair was slicked back into a low ponytail with only a few tendrils of gold, white, and red framing his face. His arms hung at his sides with one hand clutching a black box wrapped in cream ribbon. She recognized the double-S symbol as the emblem from Serpentine Sweets Chocolatiers. Saliva pooled in her mouth at the thought of popping one of their sinfully rich, creamy confections into her mouth. The bittersweetness of chocolate called to her and she reached out to snatch the package away. Thorn held it out of reach.

“Nuh-uh. Not yet. For every moment you behave on this date you’ll get one piece of candy. And if we think you’ve earned it you can have the rest of this box and the other one that’s stowed away in the car.” He extended his hand to her. “Ready?

She sniffed. “Spoilsports. Ready.”

She stepped out of the door and locked it before taking Thorn’s grasp and following them to the car. Her heels clicked down the path. She heard the tinkle of laughter to her left and peeked that way.

Lana flitted around her front garden, watering the plants and tending to flowers. Mysta trudged around after her in dirt-covered overalls, holding a watering can.

They both stopped and stared at Sera, who waved as Mysta’s thin black brow rose and her mouth formed an O of surprise. Lana flitted around, the musical sound of her giggles filling the air. Sera heard the door to Bridget’s brownstone, just a few doors down.

“What is going—oh!” Bridget stood on the top step of her porch and stared as Sera walked down the path Carver’s car. Thorn lifted up her hand and kissed the back of it.

“We promise to have her back by midnight,” Carver called out.

“You’d better, demon, or I’m going to have some brimstone boots and a demon-hide jacket.” Bridget turned and went back into her house, but the curtain in the front window twitched.